Netflix has already had a big win this year with the cooking comedyNonnas. Starring Vince Vaughn, the movie tells the story of a man who, grieving the loss of his mother, decides to invest an Italian restaurant where he hires real-life grandmas as chefs. Vaughn is joined on screen byaNonnascastthat includes Lorraine Bracco, Talia Shire, Brenda Vaccaro, Susan Sarandon, and Linda Cardellini.The movie is directed byThe Perks of Being a Wallflowerwriter-director Stephen Chbosky.
Since its release,Nonnashas been a huge success,topping the Netflix global top 10 charts during its first two weeks,and is still regularly making the top 10.Nonnashas also received positive reviewsthus far, getting an 80% Tomatometer on Rotten Tomatoes and a 74% Popcornmeter from audiences. One of the film’s champions wasScreenRant’s Grant Hermanns, who gave the film 7 out of 10 stars and appreciated its characters and “food direction.” For those who likedNonnas, there is another great movie also worth watching.
Chef Is Another Feel-Good Cooking Movie Like Nonnas
The Film Got Good Reviews
Chefis a great movie to watch for those who likedNonnas. The 2014 movie focuses on a head chef, Carl (Jon Favreau), who quits his restaurant job to buy a food truck and attempts to spark his creativity again. While progressing in his professional life, Carl also tries to piece his estranged family back together.Chefis from the mind of Favreau,who writes, directs, produces, and acts in the film. The cast also includes Robert Downey Jr., Dustin Hoffmann, Scarlett Johansson, John Leguizamo, and Bobby Cannavale.
The 2014 movie received positive reviews, including an 87% Tomatometer. Its reception is a good reason to check it out, but the themes will also be of particular appeal to those who likeNonnas. Like the Vaughn-led Netflix film,Chefemphasizes the importance of food and cooking in its storylines. It alsodeals with ideas of family, both literally and figuratively, as the idea of food bringing people together is explored in both films. There are a lot of thematic crossovers between the two well-reviewed films, making them a good pairing.
Though Favreau is not involved inNonnas, the behind-the-scenes link marks another connection between the films.
Furthermore,Cheffeatures a leading performance from Favreau, imbuing humor in its scenes. It also has an interesting connection withNonnasbecauseFavreau and Vaughn have been friends and collaborators for decades.The two met on the set ofRudyin 1993, and have since made several films together, includingSwingersandCouples Retreat.Though Favreau is not involved inNonnas, the behind-the-scenes link marks another connection between the films.
Chef’s Follow-Up On Netflix Is Also Worth Watching If You Like Nonnas
The Chef Show Has Two Seasons
Chefis currently available to stream for free via Tubi and to rent onPrime Video. For those looking for even more Favreau-infused cooking content,The Chef Showis also currently available on Netflix.The Chef Showis a food documentary series co-created by Favreau and Roy Choi. The show was created by Netflix and is currently available on the platform.
UnlikeCheforNonnas, this series is not scripted, making it a different experience than these other recommendations. That said, the food documentary series still allows for ample opportunities to see a wide variety of food, making foranother good piece of culinary-based filmmaking.The show is also fun in that it features both celebrities and accomplished chefs, making it another goodNonnas-adjacent piece.
Nonnas & Chef Are Very Different From Streaming’s Biggest Cooking Hit
These Movies Are More Feel-Good
WhileNonnasis the latest streaming project to focus heavily on cooking, it is not the biggest hit in the food world on streaming. That honor would go toThe Bear, the Emmy-winning Hulu series that returns for season 4 in June 2025. While this series also covers the intersection between restaurant ownership and family, it does so in a much higher-stress, fast-paced setting. For those interested in cooking content but looking for something low-key and feel-good,NonnasandChefare great alternatives.
Nonnas
Cast
Nonnas: Released in 2025, Nonnas follows a man who, after losing his mother, embarks on a heartfelt journey to honor her memory by opening an Italian restaurant, uniquely staffed with grandmothers as the chefs.
Chef
Chef is a road movie written, directed, and starring Jon Favreau, where his character Carl Casper quits his job at a prestigious restaurant and starts a food truck business with his son Percy (Emjay Anthony) and best friend Martin (John Leguizamo). He also receives help from his ex-wife Inez (Sofia Vergara) and her ex-husband Marvin (Robert Downey Jr.).
